Cynthia Rylant - Click to see all titles by this author.

“I love being a writer because I want to leave something here on earth to make it better, prettier, stronger.”

Author, poet, illustrator, and librarian Cynthia Rylant has written over 100 children’s books, which have won awards including the Newbery Medal, two Caldecott Honors, a Boston Globe/Horn Book Award, and a “Best Book for Young Adults” designation from the American Library Association.

Cynthia grew up in the Appalachian region of West Virginia, living for several years with her maternal grandparents. Although the family lived with hardships, she always felt nurtured and loved. Her writing reflects these early experience, with themes of love for the outdoors and animals, overcoming hard times, and finding joy through family and the warmth of community.

As a child, Cynthia intensely missed her parents, and this, too, shows in her writing – because “when you write stories, it’s always your most intense feelings that come out.” Still, on of her most cherished memories is of this important advise form her grandparents: “Always do the best you can with what you’ve got.”

Cynthia lives in Oregon and is happy collecting teapots and quilts and spending time with her granddaughter in her lush, flower-filled garden.